There was a party atmosphere at Gumfreston Residential Home on Sunday of last week when one of the residents, Mrs. Jessie May Langton, celebrated her 100th birthday.

To help mark the occasion, chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Clr. Mickey Folland (pictured above, dropped in to present her with a beautiful basket of flowers.

A remarkable woman, Mrs. Langton was born on May 25, 1903, at Long Park, Cresselly, the seventh child of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hart - her father being gardener for Cresselly Estate.

Jessie was educated at Cresselly School, leaving at a very young age - as they did in those days - to start her working life as a cleaner for the banks in Pembroke Dock.

She then moved on to the 'Naffi' at Llanion Barracks, where she became manageress, and it was while working there that she met her late husband, Bert, who was serving with the East Lancs. Regiment.

Afterwards, the couple moved to Lancashire, and worked at an ammunition factory, before again moving to Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, where they were employed as a chauffeur and housekeeper.

Finally, on retirement in 1967, they returned to live in Cosheston, near Pembroke Dock.

In 1998, Jessie moved to Gumfreston Residential Home and it was there that she celebrated her memorable milestone last week.

And what is Jessie's recipe for a long a life? "Having a tot of whisky, with honey and hot water, plus a square of chocolate - but only Cadbury's!"